Brad Pitt, known for his upcoming summer blockbuster role as a Formula 1 driver, recently got the chance to drive a previous McLaren F1 car at the Circuit of the Americas. This private test, organized by McLaren earlier this week, marked Pitt’s first time behind the wheel of an F1 car. The Hollywood actor, who portrays fictional ex-racer Sonny Hayes in the movie, traveled to Texas after the film’s premiere in New York City. Interestingly, Pitt’s first F1 experience was with McLaren, not Mercedes, despite the latter’s heavy involvement in the film’s production. Mercedes, deeply engaged in the movie through co-producer Lewis Hamilton, had various staff members credited off-screen and even featured some of its real sponsors on the fictional APX GP car.
As filming commenced before the British Grand Prix in 2023, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was actively involved in providing guidance to make the on-screen F1 representation as authentic as possible. Pitt’s off-screen training journey started with Formula 4 machinery in France under Wolff’s direction, showcasing a strong collaboration between the actor and key figures in the F1 world.
